Another record crowd for CRC Speedshow

The biggest and
most diverse automotive and motorsport event in New Zealand
broke its own attendance records with the 2014 edition of
CRC Speedshow attracting 34,700 show-goers during the two
day event earlier this month.

The eighth edition of
CRC Speedshow took place over the weekend of 19 and 20 July
at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds with the attendance numbers
representing a 14 per cent increase over the 2013 event.
Along with the record number of members of the public
fuelling their passion for all kinds of cars and
motorcycles, this year’s show saw a record number of new
car and motorcycle brands – 28 – represented which
further enhances the event’s reputation as New Zealand’s
de facto motor show.

Ross Prevette, director of The
Event Company Ltd which owns CRC Speedshow, says the support
of sponsors and exhibitors helped take the event to a new
level this year.

“Since its inception in 2007 when
it was established by race driver Keith Sharp and his wife
Jill, CRC Speedshow has been bigger and better each and
every year,” Prevette says. “My wife Brenda and I saw
incredible potential in the whole Speedshow concept when we
bought the show in 2012 so it’s a real boost to our small
team to see Kiwi automotive and motorsport fans continuing
to flock to the show.

“The comment that CRC
Speedshow has really grown up was said to me by more than
one person over the weekend. The sheer range of exhibitors
with links to performance cars, motorcycles or motorsport,
and the array of New Zealand-focused displays we were able
to put on with the support of sponsors and car enthusiasts
from around the country certainly gave this year’s show an
extremely positive feeling, with a sense that there really
is something for everyone no matter what sort of motor
racing, what type of car or what category of motorcycle
you’re into.”

The 2014 CRC Speedshow featured
some significant new model launches with Auckland-based
Ferrari dealer Continental Cars unveiling the very first
example in New Zealand of the Ferrari 458 Speciale which was
released in Europe in recent months. There was plenty of
attention for Polaris Industries, already established as a
firm favourite with their Victory Motorcycle range, when
they took the opportunity to launch the brand-new Indian
Motorcycle models to the New Zealand public. The third major
reveal came from Matamata Panelworks as they drew the cover
off a stunning, electric blue ‘Eleanor’ Mustang which
has been completely hand-crafted in steel by the Waikato
firm for a Taumaranui customer. The Mustang, which the owner
and builder hope to take to the US’s famed Specialty
Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, won the people’s
choice award in the Castrol EDGE / Teng Tools Custom Show,
which was part of CRC Speedshow for the second time.

“Proving a popular new addition to this year’s show
were the original and restored classic cars and motorcycles
shown in the Classic Cover Insurance Classic Show,”
Prevette adds. “The display of around 40 classic vehicles
helped add an important new component to the show and
certainly attracted many positive comments.

“Show-goers have told us how much they enjoyed meeting
the 20 Kiwi Young Guns, backed by Total Lubricants, who
created a fine display of race vehicles from rally,
speedway, drag racing, motor cycle circuit racing,
motocross, off-roading and drifting from around the country.
It was absolutely fantastic to host these rising motorsport
stars at this year’s show and they demonstrated their
commitment to furthering their sporting careers by engaging
with fans during the autograph signing sessions and joining
in any opportunity race a kart or radio-controlled racer.
It’s been really nice to hear from many of them about how
much they appreciated the chance to showcase their form of
motorsport and their achievements at the show.

“Everyone also enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate
the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang and the 100th
anniversary of classic Italian marque Maserati with two
special displays in the Meguiar’s Car Crazy Zone.
Meguiar’s also took their charity cruise to a whole new
level this year with 110 hot rods, street machines and
performance cars taking a scenic route to the show. Together
CRC Speedshow and Meguiar’s ensure each cruise entry fee
is donated to charity and Meguiar’s also made a donation
for every vote cast for the fans’ favourite cruise vehicle
to raise a spectacular $6,450 for the Starship
Foundation.

“In yet another first at this year’s
CRC Speedshow, Auckland Transport utilised the Ideal Wheels
live action arena to highlight road safety issues and
built-in safety features in late model vehicles by dropping
a car from a crane to simulate a car crash. This simulation
certainly got people talking about road safety,” says
Prevette.

Now that the last of the safety barriers
are packed away from the very popular Right Karts Celebrity
Charity Kart Challenge which featured star Kiwi V8 Supercar
driver Fabian Coultard, Prevette and his team can look to
the ninth edition of CRC Speedshow which is scheduled for 18
and 19 July 2015.

“You come out of one show full
of ideas for the next one, so we’re already getting great
feedback from exhibitors, custom and classic show entrants,
and show-goers from the post-show survey. Then we’ll be
getting stuck into sorting the feature displays and hall
layouts for 2015. All I can say is it’s going to be bigger
and better, once again!”

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